Gloves attached but removable from garments

ABSTRACT

A protective garment is provided consisting of a garment body having at least one sleeve, a glove associated with the sleeve, and an adhesive disposed upon a surface of the glove, the sleeve, or both. The adhesive forms an interface between the two surfaces. The adhesive has sufficient adhesion to remain affixed substantially to the surface to which it is applied while having sufficient strength to enable donning of the garment without damaging the interface. The glove is removable from the garment body by breaking the interface, without causing damage to the surfaces of the glove or garment body, and without migration of the adhesive from the surface to which it was applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective garments for usewith gloves, for example surgical gowns used with surgical gloves.

Protective garments, such as clean room apparel, coveralls, and gowns,designed to provide barrier protection to a wearer are well known in theart. Such protective garments are used in situations where isolation ofa wearer from a particular environment is desirable, or it is desirableto inhibit or retard the passage of hazardous liquids and biologicalcontaminates through the garment to the wearer.

In the medical and health-care industry, particularly with surgicalprocedures, a primary concern is isolation of the medical practitionerfrom patient fluids such as blood, saliva, perspiration, etc. Protectivegarments rely on the barrier properties of the fabrics used in thegarments, and on the construction and design of the garment. Openings orseams in the garments may be unsatisfactory, especially if the seams oropenings are located in positions where they may be subjected to stressand/or direct contact with the hazardous substances.

Gloves are commonly worn in conjunction with protective garments,particularly in the medical industry. Typically, the gloves are pulledup over the cuff and sleeve of a gown or garment. However, the interfacebetween the glove and the protective garment is an area of concern. Forexample, a common issue with surgical gloves is glove “roll-down” orslippage resulting from a low frictional interface between the interiorside of the glove and the surgical gown sleeve. When the glove rollsdown or slips on the sleeve, the wearer is at greater risk of exposureto patient fluids and/or other contaminants.

An additional problem associated with the use of surgical gloves is thatas a result of the gloves being pulled up over the cuff and sleeve ofthe gown, a phenomenon known as “channeling” occurs. That is, the sleeveof the gown is bunched up under the glove due to the pulling and rollingof the glove up and over the cuff and sleeve. Channels may develop alongthe wearer's wrist that may provide access to the interior of the gownfor patient fluids running down the outside of the sleeve of the gown.Such fluids may enter the channels and work down along the channelsbetween the outer surface of the gown and inner surface of the surgicalglove. The fluids may then contaminate the gown cuff, which liesdirectly against the wearer's wrist or forearm, particularly if the cuffis absorbent or otherwise fluid pervious.

Surgeons and other medical personnel have attempted to address concernswith the glove and gown interface in different ways. For example, it hasbeen a common practice to use adhesive tape wrapped around the gloveportion extending over the gown sleeve to prevent channels and roll downof the glove on the sleeve. This approach has drawbacks though. Many ofthe common adhesives utilized in tapes are subject to attack by waterand body fluids and the seal can be broken during a procedure. It hasalso been known to stretch a rubber band around the glove and sleeve.However, this practice is awkward to implement and difficult to adjustor vary the pressure exerted by the rubber band other than by having avariety of rubber bands of different sizes and tensions available foruse.

Thus, a need exists for an improved device and method for providing aneffective sealing interface between a glove and sleeve of a protectivegarment, wherein the device is easily incorporated with the protectivegarment and economically cost effective to implement and practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

The present invention provides a protective garment incorporating aneffective and economical mechanism for improving the interface areabetween the sleeves of the garment and a glove pulled over the sleeves.The improvement eliminates the proximal end of the glove from rolling orsliding back down the garment sleeves once the wearer has pulled thegloves on because the glove is preattached to the sleeve. In this way,the garment according to the invention addresses at least certain of thedisadvantages of conventional garments discussed above.

It should be appreciated that, although the present invention hasparticular usefulness as a surgical gown, the invention is not limitedin scope to surgical gowns or the medical industry. The protectivegarment according to the present invention has wide application and canbe used in any instance wherein a protective coverall, gown, robe, etc.,is used with gloves. All such uses and garments are contemplated withinthe scope of the invention.

In an embodiment of the invention, a protective garment is providedhaving a garment body. The garment may be, for example, a surgical gown,a protective coverall, etc. The garment body includes sleeves, and thesleeves may have a cuff disposed at the distal end thereof. The cuffsmay be formed from or include an extensible material, and may be liquidretentive or liquid impervious. In addition to the garment body, a gloveis also provided. An adhesive is disposed between one surface of theglove and a surface of the sleeve. The adhesive forms an interfacebetween the glove and the garment body enabling the glove to beremovable from the garment body by peeling the glove from the sleeve. Anadhesive is selected having properties that enable the glove to beremoved from the sleeve without damaging the glove or the garment body.

In one aspect of the invention the interface between the glove andsleeve may consist of at least one continuous ring of the adhesive suchthat the interface forms a barrier to the flow of liquids into theinterior of the protective garment. In another aspect of the invention,the adhesive may be disposed upon one surface in such a manner so thatit remains on that surface without migrating to the other surface withwhich it is contacted.

In another aspect, the present invention is a garment body having atleast one sleeve, a glove, and an adhesive disposed upon a surface. Thesurface may be either an interior surface of the glove, an exteriorsurface of the sleeve, or both. The adhesive forms an interface betweenthe two surfaces and exhibits sufficient adhesion to remain affixedsubstantially to the surface to which it is applied while havingsufficient strength to enable donning of the garment without damagingthe interface. The glove itself is removable from the garment body bybreaking the interface. An adhesive is selected such that it does notcause damage to the surfaces of the glove or garment body, and does notmigrate from the surface to which it was applied.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, a surgical gown isprovided. The surgical gown is made up of a gown body having twosleeves, a detachable glove associated with each sleeve, and an adhesivedisposed upon an inner surface of each glove for attaching the glove tothe gown sleeve. The adhesive is sufficiently strong so as to enabledonning of the surgical gown without separating the glove from thesleeve. The glove is removable from the sleeve by peeling the glove fromthe sleeve without damaging the glove, the sleeve, or the gown body.

Embodiments of the protective garment according to the invention aredescribed below in greater detail with reference to the appendedfigures. These and other objects are achieved by the process disclosedand claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of an embodiment of a protective garmentaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a garment sleeve and gloveaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a process for manufacturing the FIG. 1 andFIG. 2 embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to one or more examples of theinvention depicted in the FIGS. Each example is provided by way ofexplanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation. Forexample, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment maybe used with another embodiment to yield still a different embodiment.Other modifications and variations to the described embodiments are alsocontemplated within the scope and spirit of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a protective garment 10 according to the invention.The garment 10 includes a main body portion 12, a neck portion 14, andsleeves 16 (one sleeve shown) attached to the main body portion 12 at aseam 18. The sleeves 16 may alternatively be formed as an integralcomponent with the main body portion 12. Each sleeve 16 may include anupper or proximal end 20, a lower or distal end 22, and an exteriorsurface 24.

The garment 10 is depicted as a surgical gown for illustrative purposesonly. The garment 10 may be any type or style of protective coveringthat is generally worn about the body and includes sleeves. Such aprotective garment 10 has wide application and, while the invention maybe useful in medical applications, the invention may be used in anyinstance where a protective garment such as a coverall, robe, gown, etc.is used. One such additional example would include clean room apparel.

With respect to the garment 10 the terms “lower” or “distal” are usedherein to denote features that are closer to the hands of a wearer. Theterms “upper” or “proximal” are used to denote features that are closerto the shoulder region of the wearer.

It should be appreciated that the type of fabric or material used forgarment 10 is not a limiting factor of the invention. The garment 10 maybe made from a multitude of materials, including nonwoven materialssuitable for disposable use. For example, gown embodiments of thegarment 10 may be made of a stretchable nonwoven material so that thegown is less likely to tear during donning or wearing of the gown. Amaterial particularly well suited for use with the present invention isa three-layer nonwoven polypropylene material known as SMS. “SMS” is anacronym for Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond, the process by which thethree layers are constructed and then laminated together. See forexample U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,203 to Brock et al. One particular advantageis that the SMS material exhibits enhanced fluid barriercharacteristics. It should be noted, however, that other nonwovens aswell as other materials including wovens, films, foam/film laminates,and combinations thereof may be used to construct the garment of thepresent invention. It is also contemplated that the garment may becoated with a liquid impervious coating to prevent fluid absorption intothe garment material.

Looking back to FIG. 1, it may be seen that the sleeves 16 mayincorporate a cuff 26 attached to the distal end 22 thereof. The cuffhas a distal end 28 and a proximal end 30. The configuration andmaterials used in the cuff 26 may vary widely. For example, short,tight-fitting cuffs made from a knitted material may be provided. Thecuff 26 may be formed with or without ribs. The cuff may be formed of aliquid repellant material or a liquid retentive material. Cuffs suitablefor use with garments according to the present invention are describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,955 and 5,680,653, both of which areincorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.

Still looking to FIG. 1 it may be seen that protective garments arefrequently used with gloves, such as a surgical glove 32 that is pulledover the hand of the wearer and has a sufficient length so that aportion of the glove 32 overlaps the cuff 26 (if present) and a portionof the sleeve 16. As shown, for example in FIG. 2, an overlapping region34 is thus established between the glove interior surface and theexterior surface 24 of the sleeve 16 that would include cuff 26 ifpresent. At some position within this overlapping region 34 an interface36 between the sleeve 16 and the glove 32 is provided. This interface 36serves to attach the glove 32 to the sleeve 16 and inhibits undesirablefluids or other contaminants from running down the sleeve 16 into theinterior of the garment 10. In some embodiments, the interface 36 isliquid resistant and thus deters these fluids and contaminants fromentry into the interior of the garment 10. Though the interface 36 mayfeasibly be located anywhere within the overlapping region 34, in manyembodiments it is located at or near an open end 40 of the glove 32 tofurther minimize the potential for entry of contaminants into theinterior of the garment 10. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, the glove 32 may be attached or adhered to the sleeve 16,cuff 26, or both. However, for ease of description the glove 32 will bedescribed as being affixed to the sleeve 16.

In any event, the protective garment 10 is manufactured with the glove32 adhered or otherwise preattached to the protective garment 10 at theinterface 36. This configuration eliminates both glove slippage orroll-down and also provides the garment 10 with the desired fluidresistance at the juncture of the garment and the glove. One manner ofattaching the glove 32 to the garment 10 is through application of anappropriate adhesive to at least some portion of the overlapping region34. Thus, when the sleeve 16 and the glove 32 are contacted, theadhesive itself forms the interface 36. Nonetheless, the manner in whichthe glove 32 is secured to the sleeve 16 must be one that enables theglove 32 to be removed without damage to the glove 32, sleeve 16, orgarment 10. As such, when using an adhesive, to enable damage freedetachment of the glove from the garment, an appropriate adhesive isnecessary. One such adhesive may comprise a pressure sensitive adhesivecapable of adhesion without the formation of irreversible bonds, in thepresent case between the glove 32 and garment 10.

The placement of the adhesive at the overlapping region 34 may beaccomplished by coating, spraying, printing, slot coating, laminating orother known conventional processes. The adhesive may be applied in anynumber of patterns including but not limited to one or more continuousbands on the interior of the glove, the exterior of the sleeve, or both.It is to be understood that if the garment has cuffs, then the adhesivemay be applied to each cuff as well. The term “continuous band” or“bands” is not meant to connote any specific geometric configuration.Many geometric configurations are feasible and will be understood bythose skilled in the art to include, for example, circles, ovals,crescents, ribbons, sinusoidal shapes, symmetric and non-symmetricshapes, regular and irregular bounded shapes, etc. If it is desired thatthe interface 36 be liquid resistant then the adhesive should be appliedin some continuous pattern that forms a border around the entire surfaceof the interior of the glove, the exterior of the sleeve, or both. Sucha continuous border would function as a barrier to minimize, deter, oreven eliminate the formation of pathways for undesirable fluids or othercontaminants to move down the sleeve 16 into the interior of thegarment.

As stated above, the garment 10 is designed to have the glove 32 beremovable at the discretion of the user. Removal of the glove 32 shouldnot result in damage to the glove 32, the sleeve 16, or the garment 10.Moreover, the adhesive should remain affixed substantially to thesurface upon which it was applied. The phrase “remain affixedsubstantially” or “remain substantially affixed” means simply that theadhesive stays in place upon the surface to which it was applied evenafter separating the glove from the garment. That is, the mating surfacedoes not itself become adhesive though it may exhibit some residualtackiness.

In some embodiments, this may be an important attribute where adhesiveresidue is not desirable upon one surface or the other. For example, ina surgical gown, it may be desirable to apply the adhesive solely to theglove 32. A surgeon using a gown of this construct would be suppliedwith such a garment 10 having the gloves 32 preattached at the interface36. This configuration would minimize the potential for contamination ofthe surgeon's hands during donning of the gown. At some point during orafter the procedure, the surgeon at his discretion may simply grasp theglove 32 at the distal end 40 and remove it in the normal manner. Duringremoval, the interface 36 would break and the adhesive would remain onthe glove surface. The surgeon could remain in the gown and performother tasks not requiring gloves or could alternatively don other gloveswithout concern that the gown sleeves had picked up adhesive residuefrom the formerly preattached gloves. Moreover, removal of thepreattached gloves would not damage the gown or gown sleeve in a waythat made the gown unusable for the purpose it was designed.

Numerous techniques exist to attach the glove 32 to the garment sleeve16. One such technique that has proven satisfactory in the presentinvention is explained below and depicted in FIG. 3. The sleeve 16 orcuff 26, having circumferentially extendable regions or gathers, isextended on a form 42 so that the sleeve or cuff is in a stretched ornon-gathered configuration. The adhesive is applied to the glove orsleeve over a region 44 that is to be occluded by the glove, theoverlapping region 34. The glove is then placed over the extended cuffor sleeve so that the interior surface of the glove contacts and adheresto the exterior region of the sleeve. The now joined glove and sleeveassembly may next be attached to the garment in the event that thesleeve is not integral to the garment or in the event that the sleevehas not yet been attached to the garment.

EXAMPLES

The attachment of the glove to the gown sleeve must be reversible, inthe sense that no damage is caused by removing the glove from sleeve. Todetermine ranges of acceptable reversible glove to gown attachment, theobserved performance of removing various gloves attached to gown sleeveswas correlated to quantifiable measurements for the adhesion betweencertain adhesive coated substrates and stainless steel and for adhesionbetween one of the certain adhesive coated substrates and films used tomake the various gloves supported on stainless steel. In this way,adhesives that show quantified measurements of adhesion similar to thosevalues giving too little or too much glove to attachment gown attachmentcan be excluded from further consideration.

Suitable procedures to measure the adhesion of the glove to gownattachment are based upon ASTM Standard 3330/D 3330M-02. While this ASTMStandard is most commonly used for measuring the peel adhesion ofpressure-sensitive tapes to specified test panels, it may also be usedto measure the peel adhesion of other materials. The Standard definesspecific Test Methods for measuring peel adhesion of tape, of which TestMethod A, C and D, as written and with modifications, are of interestfor determining appropriate ranges of adhesion of the glove from thesleeve per this invention. The procedures based on these ASTM 3330 TestMethods were used to determine (measure) appropriate levels ofattachment and separation (peel adhesion). The measurements from theseprocedures provide information consistent with the ASTM Test Methods inthat they show the relative bond strength to various surfaces, and theyshow the force required to separate materials of specified dimensions atspecified peel rates.

Like the ASTM 3330 Test Methods A, C, and D, the procedures measure apeel strength (grams force per inch width) to separate an adhesivecoated substrate (e.g. tape) from another substrate at a 180° angle whenthe contact between the materials occurs over a 1-inch width. Thecontact is formed between a 1-inch wide strip and another material whenthe strip is placed in contact with the other material in the form of atest panel with dimensions of at least 2 inches by 5 inches, e.g. asmooth stainless steel plate, or another substrate of interest adheredto such a plate. Attachment between the strip and test panel substratesis “standardized” by rolling a 4.5 pound rubber coated roller on top ofthe strip that is in contact with the test panel lengthwise. Othercommonalities between the procedures for measuring peel strengths andthe ASTM 3330 Test Methods include:

-   -   The speed of separation (180° apart) of the strip from the test        panel=12 inches per minute    -   Linear contact of the strip against the test panel at the start        of strength data collection=at least 4 inches    -   Specification of Dwell Time, the time between adhesion and        testing. Peel strengths were measured for two Dwell Time        conditions in order to access the difference in adhesion for        conditions of:        -   Not Aged=5 to 10 minutes        -   Aged=50+ hours    -   (Dwell Time may have considerable impact on strength values;        conventionally, peel strengths begin to measurably increase        after a Dwell Time of one hour but level off close to maximum        values after approximately twenty four (24) hours.)    -   Repetitive Specimen Testing=2 to 8 depending on sample    -   Peel Strengths=calculated average of “real-time” strengths        recorded over 2 inch span after 1 inch of separation has        occurred between the strip and substrate.

In general, the test procedures followed the steps set forth inASTM-3330 Test Methods with the exception that the 4.5 pound roller waspassed lengthwise over the top of the strip and test panel once, ratherthan two passes.

Individual specimen measurements for each sample were then averaged andstandard deviations and resulting coefficients of variation (COV %)determined using generally accepted statistical analyses for reportingpurposes.

Two types of procedures, Procedures 1 and 2, were used to determinequantified measurements of adhesion expressed as peel strength.Procedure 1 measured peel strengths between selected pressure sensitiveadhesive tapes to stainless steel. Procedure 2 measured peel strengthsbetween glove films and a pressure sensitive adhesive tape observed toallow for reversible glove to gown attachment under certain conditions.

Three adhesive tapes were found to be representative of the possibletypes of glove to gown attachment: reversible, too little, or too much.These adhesive tapes, identified in Table 1, were formed into 1-inchwide strips, adhered to stainless steel test panels and tested accordingto Procedure 1. Procedure 1 follows the steps of ASTM 3330 Test Method Awhen using single-coated tape strips and Test Method C when usingdouble-coated tape strips, with the previously mentioned exception(single pass of the roller to standardized strip to steel attachment)for attaching to stainless steel test panels. The peel strengths betweenthese tape strips and the stainless steel test panel were measured underNot Aged Dwell Time conditions. Table 1 reports an average in peelstrengths for each group of Test Set specimens with the coefficient ofvariation (COV %) value expressing the variability among therepetitions: TABLE 1 Peel Strength Averages (No. Test of repetitions),Set Tape Description Dwell Time gm/inch COV, % 1 1 Press'n Seal* NotAged  55 (8) 60 sealable plastic wrap 2 2 Scotch* Not Aged  641 (4) 13Double Coated 665 3 3 Nashua 398 Not Aged 2327 (4) 12 Duct tape

Since the double-coated tape identified as Tape 2 in Table 1 wasobserved to give reversible glove to gown attachment for some but notall conditions (including glove types and age of attachment) it wasselected for further peel strength testing. Procedure 2 was followed tomeasure peel strengths between various glove films and Tape 2 for bothNot Aged and Aged Dwell Times. Procedure 2 follows similar steps asthose specified in ASTM 3330 Test Method A, previously described, andTest Method D which measures the adherence of “release liner” toadhesive tape.

Specifically in Procedure 2, films from various gloves were cut into1-inch wide strips and adhered to a test panel substrate consisting ofTape 2. In preparing the test panel substrates, Tape 2 strips werealigned on the steel plates either in the direction to the peel(Vertical) or orthogonally (Horizontal) to assess the importance ofadhesive orientation. The orthogonal arrangement was used to simulatethe arrangement of adhesive tapes as used in determining glove to gownperformance observations.

Three films were selected to represent the typical range commonly useddisposable gloves; these are identified as:

-   -   NRL=natural rubber film from Kimberly-Clark* SAFESKIN* PF        Powder-free Latex Surgical Glove (stock code 54460)    -   Vinyl=vinyl film from Kimberly-Clark* Safeskin* Synthetic        Powder-Free Exam Glove (Vinyl Powder-free; stock code 55032)    -   HDPE=High Density Polyethylene 0.6 mil film

The peel strength values between these glove films and the Tape 2 testpanel substrates using Not Aged and Aged Dwell Time conditions arereported in Table 2. These values are averages of individual resultsamong each Test Set group with the coefficient of variation (COV %)value expressing the variability among the repetitions with procedureswere modified to quantity the adhesion of glove films to adhesive tape.TABLE 2 Peel Strength Averages (No. of Test Film on Tape Dwellrepetitions), Set Tape 2 Alignment Time gm/inch COV, % 4 NRL VerticalNot  54 (2) 22 Aged 5 NRL Horizontal Not  99 (2) 4 Aged 6 NRL HorizontalAged 317 (5) 8 7 Vinyl Vertical Not 173 (2) 37 Aged 8 Vinyl HorizontalNot 100 (2) 8 Aged 9 Vinyl Horizontal Aged 594 (4) 32 10 HDPE VerticalNot 394 (2) 3 Aged 11 HDPE Horizontal Not 550 (2) 34 Aged

The results show the similarities in averaged values for the NRL andVinyl glove films versus the HDPE film and the impact of aging—at leasta 3-fold increase in Peel Strengths for Aged adhesion conditions.

The actual performance with respect to reversible glove to gownattachment was observed for adhesive and glove combinations using theglove materials identified in Table 2 and various materials for adhesiveattachment. These materials, either adhesive tapes or stretchable wrapswith high friction surfaces are identified as:

-   -   Tapes 1, 2, or 3 as described in Table 1    -   Wrap 1=J&J's Hurt-Free* Tape; consisting of stretchable wrap        coated with a surface modifier to produce a high friction        surface and limited adherence to itself but without observable        adhesion to glove films or gown fabrics (as described in U.S.        Pat. No. 5,503,908).    -   Wrap 2=3M's NEXCARE* Adhering Wrap; consisting of stretchable        wrap coated with a surface modifier to produce a high friction        surface similar to Wrap 1 that also adheres to itself but        without observable adhesion to glove films or gown fabrics.

Glove to gown attachment systems were made using various combinations ofgloves and adhesive materials in order to determine those withsatisfactory reversible attachment. The gloves identified in Table 2were attached to sleeves using the above attachment materials in thefollowing sequential manner:

-   -   1. The woven cuff of the sleeve of a large ULTRA* Surgical Gown        (stock # 95111) available from Kimberly-Clark Corporation was        extended on a mandrel having a 9.25-inch circumference    -   2. The attachment strips were attached to the extended gown cuff        to form a 1-inch wide band near the edge of the gown cuff.        (Attachment to the gown cuff was achieved via Scotch* 665 double        coated tape when the material to gown cuff interface lacked        adhesive properties).    -   3. Each selected glove was placed over the gown cuff and        respective attachment strip for a specified Dwell Time of Aged        or Not Aged conditions.    -   4. The glove attached to the gown cuff was removed from the        mandrel after the specified Dwell Time and allowed to reach an        equilibrium dimensional condition (the use of non-elastic tapes        deterred complete retraction of the glove to gown cuff interface        to the initial gown or glove cuff dimensions).

With the glove to gown cuff interface established, both the gown and theattached glove were donned in one continuous motion of the arm withperformance observations recorded in Table 3. Depending on the successof donning both the gown and glove without the glove detaching, thereversible nature of the attachment was categorized as acceptable (=Yes)when glove removal was not hindered, or not acceptable (=No) when theglove was difficult to remove or the glove tore. TABLE 3Glove/Attachment Dwell Acceptable Acceptable Test Set Strip Time DonningRemoval 12 NRL/Tape 2 Not Aged Yes Yes 13 NRL/Tape 2 Aged Yes No(difficult) 14 NRL/Tape 3 Not Aged Yes No (glove tore) 15 NRL/Tape 1 NotAged No — 16 NRL/Wrap 1 Not Aged No — 17 NRL/Wrap 2 Not Aged No — 18Vinyl/Tape 2 Not Aged Yes Yes 19 Vinyl/Wrap 1 Not Aged No — 20Vinyl/Wrap 2 Not Aged No — 21 HDPE/Tape 2 Not Aged Yes Yes 22 HDPE/Wrap1 Not Aged No — 23 HDPE/Wrap 2 Not Aged No —Correlation of Performance to Peel Strengths

-   -   The unacceptable donning performance of gloves attached to gown        sleeves via Wraps 1 & 2 and Tape 1 is attributed to these        materials inadequate adhesion properties. Given Tape 1's range        of Not Aged Peel Strengths which averaged 55 gm/inch with 60%        COV per Table 1, attachment strips with less than 100 gm/inch        peel strength attachment to stainless steel plates characterize        insufficient adhesion for maintaining glove attachment to gown        sleeves per the invention.    -   The unacceptable performance observed in removing gloves        attached with Tape 3 to gown sleeves is attributed to        “aggressive” adhesion attributes. Given Tape 3's Not Aged Peel        Strengths which averaged 2327 gm/inch with 12% COV per Table 1,        attachment strips with greater than 2000 gm/inch peel strength        attachment to stainless steel plates are inappropriate for        allowing the reversible attachment aspect of the invention.    -   Acceptable pressure sensitive adhesives for utility in the        invention have average Peel Strengths within the range of about        100 to 2000 gm/inch with respect to stainless steel. The        pressure sensitive adhesive of Tape 2 exhibits such acceptable        Not Aged Peel Strength values which averaged 641 gm/inch with        13% COV per Table 1. Based on this adhesive's performance to        glove films, peel strength values for the invention's acceptable        attachment can further be characterized as ranging from 40 to        290 gm/inch with respect to glove films.

Accordingly, while this invention has been described by reference tocertain specific embodiments and examples, it will be understood thatthis invention is capable of further modifications. This application is,therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of theinvention following the general principles thereof, and including suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within thelimits of the appended claims.

1. A protective garment, comprising: a garment body having at least onesleeve; a glove; an adhesive disposed between a first interior surfaceof the glove and a first exterior surface of the sleeve; the adhesiveforming an interface between the glove and the garment body such thatthe first interior surface of the glove overlaps a portion of the firstexterior surface of the sleeve, wherein the glove is removable from thegarment body without damaging the glove or the garment body.
 2. Theprotective garment of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at leastone continuous ring of the adhesive.
 3. The protective garment of claim1, wherein the interface comprises a barrier to the flow of liquids intoan interior portion of the protective garment.
 4. The protective garmentof claim 1, wherein applying a peel strength force to the interface offrom about 40 grams force per inch to about 290 grams force per inchnondestructively separates the glove from the garment while the adhesiveremains substantially on one of the first surfaces.
 5. The protectivegarment of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is disposed on one of the firstsurfaces where it remains without migrating to the other first surface.6. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises apressure sensitive adhesive.
 7. The protective garment of claim 1,wherein the garment body comprises clean room apparel.
 8. The protectivegarment of claim 1, wherein the garment body is a surgical gown.
 9. Aprotective garment, comprising: a garment body having at least onesleeve; a glove; an adhesive disposed upon a surface selected from thegroup consisting of an interior surface of the glove and an exteriorsurface of the sleeve, the adhesive forming an interface between the twosurfaces such that a portion of the interior surface of the gloveoverlaps a portion of the exterior surface of the sleeve, the adhesivehaving sufficient adhesion to remain affixed substantially to thesurface to which it is applied while having sufficient strength toenable donning of the garment without damaging the interface; andwherein the glove is removable from the garment body by breaking theinterface, without causing damage to the surfaces of the glove orgarment body, and without migration of the adhesive from the surface towhich it was applied.
 10. The protective garment of claim 9, wherein thegarment body comprises clean room apparel.
 11. The protective garment ofclaim 9, wherein the garment body comprises a surgical gown.
 12. Theprotective garment of claim 9, wherein the adhesive is applied to thesleeve.
 13. The protective garment of claim 9, wherein the adhesive isapplied to the glove
 14. The protective garment of claim 9, wherein theinterface comprises a barrier to the flow of liquids into an interiorportion of the protective garment
 15. The protective garment of claim 9,wherein subjecting the interface to a peel strength force of from about40 grams force per inch to about 290 grams force per inch separates theglove from the garment.
 16. The protective garment of claim 9, whereinthe Interface comprises at least one band of the adhesive.
 17. Theprotective garment of claim 15, wherein the band is continuous aroundthe sleeve.
 18. The protective garment of claim 9, wherein the adhesivecomprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 19. The protective garment ofclaim 9, comprising a cuff configured at the distal end of the sleeve,the adhesive disposed proximal to the cuffs.
 20. A surgical gown,comprising: a gown body having two sleeves; a detachable gloveassociated with each sleeve; and an adhesive disposed upon an innersurface of each glove for attaching the glove to the gown sleeve suchthat a portion of the inner surfaces of the gloves overlap a portion ofthe exterior surfaces of the sleeves, wherein the adhesive issufficiently strong to enable donning of the surgical gown withoutseparating the glove from the sleeve and wherein the glove is removablefrom the sleeve by peeling the glove from the sleeve without damagingthe glove, the sleeve, or the gown body.